Erik Hodgetts
@eriktheguide.bsky.social
More Posts About Buildings And Food.
NYC tour guide, educator, and architect.
More at linktr.ee/erikhodgetts
NYC tour guide, educator, and architect.
More at linktr.ee/erikhodgetts
Tucked away on tiny Mosco Street in Manhattan's Chinatown, #FriedDumpling (aka Old Shandong Potstickers) cranks out hundreds of delectable, crisp-edged pork and chive 𝘨𝘶𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘦 every day. Dosed with black vinegar and garlicky red pepper sauce, they go down way too easy...
January 27, 2026 at 2:46 PM
Tucked away on tiny Mosco Street in Manhattan's Chinatown, #FriedDumpling (aka Old Shandong Potstickers) cranks out hundreds of delectable, crisp-edged pork and chive 𝘨𝘶𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘦 every day. Dosed with black vinegar and garlicky red pepper sauce, they go down way too easy...
Another long-time #LittleItaly stalwart, Ferrara on Grand Street has been making classic Italian pastries and other sweets since 1892.
Sampling the offerings allows guests to judge if theirs are in fact the best cannoli in NYC, often inspiring further “research” on the topic!
Sampling the offerings allows guests to judge if theirs are in fact the best cannoli in NYC, often inspiring further “research” on the topic!
January 26, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Another long-time #LittleItaly stalwart, Ferrara on Grand Street has been making classic Italian pastries and other sweets since 1892.
Sampling the offerings allows guests to judge if theirs are in fact the best cannoli in NYC, often inspiring further “research” on the topic!
Sampling the offerings allows guests to judge if theirs are in fact the best cannoli in NYC, often inspiring further “research” on the topic!
Having just celebrated 100 years in Manhattan's Little Italy, for generations Di Palo's has been the local source for everything from olive oil to house-made ricotta.
Their quality imports are a great way to explore classic #antipasto ingredients like salami, cheese & olives.
Their quality imports are a great way to explore classic #antipasto ingredients like salami, cheese & olives.
January 25, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Having just celebrated 100 years in Manhattan's Little Italy, for generations Di Palo's has been the local source for everything from olive oil to house-made ricotta.
Their quality imports are a great way to explore classic #antipasto ingredients like salami, cheese & olives.
Their quality imports are a great way to explore classic #antipasto ingredients like salami, cheese & olives.
Two Egyptian bros (of Two Brothers slice chain fame) & their Israeli partner run the very credible #UpsidePizza, with one on Mulberry St.
Most distinctive is their light, flavorful take on Sicilian pizza, with a hint of twang from a 3-day sourdough process for its raised crust.
Most distinctive is their light, flavorful take on Sicilian pizza, with a hint of twang from a 3-day sourdough process for its raised crust.
January 24, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Two Egyptian bros (of Two Brothers slice chain fame) & their Israeli partner run the very credible #UpsidePizza, with one on Mulberry St.
Most distinctive is their light, flavorful take on Sicilian pizza, with a hint of twang from a 3-day sourdough process for its raised crust.
Most distinctive is their light, flavorful take on Sicilian pizza, with a hint of twang from a 3-day sourdough process for its raised crust.
Small local chain Empanada Mama provides a lot of flexibility, with vegetarian versions filled with rice and beans & gluten-free options in fried cornmeal.
But my go-to (a personal fave) has always been #pernil, Dominican & Puerto Rican classic tender slow-cooked pork shoulder.
But my go-to (a personal fave) has always been #pernil, Dominican & Puerto Rican classic tender slow-cooked pork shoulder.
January 23, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Small local chain Empanada Mama provides a lot of flexibility, with vegetarian versions filled with rice and beans & gluten-free options in fried cornmeal.
But my go-to (a personal fave) has always been #pernil, Dominican & Puerto Rican classic tender slow-cooked pork shoulder.
But my go-to (a personal fave) has always been #pernil, Dominican & Puerto Rican classic tender slow-cooked pork shoulder.
City-run #EssexMarket is a great tour stop, especially in inclement weather, with ample indoor seating & restrooms.
Local businesses like Davidovich Bakery, Puebla Mexican Food, Sugar Sweet Sunshine & more provide a multitude of interesting food options.
essexmarket.nyc
Local businesses like Davidovich Bakery, Puebla Mexican Food, Sugar Sweet Sunshine & more provide a multitude of interesting food options.
essexmarket.nyc
January 22, 2026 at 2:48 PM
City-run #EssexMarket is a great tour stop, especially in inclement weather, with ample indoor seating & restrooms.
Local businesses like Davidovich Bakery, Puebla Mexican Food, Sugar Sweet Sunshine & more provide a multitude of interesting food options.
essexmarket.nyc
Local businesses like Davidovich Bakery, Puebla Mexican Food, Sugar Sweet Sunshine & more provide a multitude of interesting food options.
essexmarket.nyc
Kossar's on Grand Street provides the opportunity to explore beyond the bagel to its lesser-known relative the #bialy - named for Białystok in Poland, with a thin skin and a light, fluffy interior with an open crumb. A depression in the middle holds poppy seeds & cooked onion.
January 21, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Kossar's on Grand Street provides the opportunity to explore beyond the bagel to its lesser-known relative the #bialy - named for Białystok in Poland, with a thin skin and a light, fluffy interior with an open crumb. A depression in the middle holds poppy seeds & cooked onion.
Another familiar spot on E. Houston for over 100 years, #YonahSchimmel is the only knishery in Manhattan
Comparing their classic savory potato knish (with obligatory mustard) with a blueberry cheese version from the sweet side of the menu always makes for interesting discussions
Comparing their classic savory potato knish (with obligatory mustard) with a blueberry cheese version from the sweet side of the menu always makes for interesting discussions
January 20, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Another familiar spot on E. Houston for over 100 years, #YonahSchimmel is the only knishery in Manhattan
Comparing their classic savory potato knish (with obligatory mustard) with a blueberry cheese version from the sweet side of the menu always makes for interesting discussions
Comparing their classic savory potato knish (with obligatory mustard) with a blueberry cheese version from the sweet side of the menu always makes for interesting discussions
A bastion of Jewish food tradition on the Lower East Side, #RussAndDaughters has been the gold standard for smoked fish for over a century, with long lines for bagels & lox. But sweets can be picked up more expeditiously, and babka, rugelach & halvah are always crowd pleasers.
January 19, 2026 at 2:47 PM
A bastion of Jewish food tradition on the Lower East Side, #RussAndDaughters has been the gold standard for smoked fish for over a century, with long lines for bagels & lox. But sweets can be picked up more expeditiously, and babka, rugelach & halvah are always crowd pleasers.
One of the pleasures of doing walking tours in #NYC is sharing local foods with guests. The range of options available is amazing, but good choices should be authentic local businesses & convenient to access. Over the next few days, let's look at some I’ve particularly enjoyed.
January 18, 2026 at 3:12 PM
One of the pleasures of doing walking tours in #NYC is sharing local foods with guests. The range of options available is amazing, but good choices should be authentic local businesses & convenient to access. Over the next few days, let's look at some I’ve particularly enjoyed.
The upscale take on a BEC at #Maman is a reliable little powerhouse of flavor, as seen here at their University Pl. location.
An egg done over easy and topped with melted cheddar cheese & candied bacon, all tied together with their mildly spicy ketchup on a toasted croissant bun
An egg done over easy and topped with melted cheddar cheese & candied bacon, all tied together with their mildly spicy ketchup on a toasted croissant bun
January 17, 2026 at 3:14 PM
The upscale take on a BEC at #Maman is a reliable little powerhouse of flavor, as seen here at their University Pl. location.
An egg done over easy and topped with melted cheddar cheese & candied bacon, all tied together with their mildly spicy ketchup on a toasted croissant bun
An egg done over easy and topped with melted cheddar cheese & candied bacon, all tied together with their mildly spicy ketchup on a toasted croissant bun
Home-made pork #meatballs as per the reliable recipe from @TheKitchn. Simmering them in the marinara sauce is key for the most tender and flavorful result.
Over linguine fini, and enhanced with more grated Romano cheese and some freshly-ground black pepper.
bit.ly/4jDRMLm
Over linguine fini, and enhanced with more grated Romano cheese and some freshly-ground black pepper.
bit.ly/4jDRMLm
January 16, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Home-made pork #meatballs as per the reliable recipe from @TheKitchn. Simmering them in the marinara sauce is key for the most tender and flavorful result.
Over linguine fini, and enhanced with more grated Romano cheese and some freshly-ground black pepper.
bit.ly/4jDRMLm
Over linguine fini, and enhanced with more grated Romano cheese and some freshly-ground black pepper.
bit.ly/4jDRMLm
The varied sweet & savory items at #cronut creator Dominique Ansel's Papa d'Amour on University Pl. are all crafted with care & each seems to have a little thematic twist.
In this case, Cantonese Malay sponge cake is kicked up a notch with cinnamon, nutmeg & caramelized banana.
In this case, Cantonese Malay sponge cake is kicked up a notch with cinnamon, nutmeg & caramelized banana.
January 15, 2026 at 3:13 PM
The varied sweet & savory items at #cronut creator Dominique Ansel's Papa d'Amour on University Pl. are all crafted with care & each seems to have a little thematic twist.
In this case, Cantonese Malay sponge cake is kicked up a notch with cinnamon, nutmeg & caramelized banana.
In this case, Cantonese Malay sponge cake is kicked up a notch with cinnamon, nutmeg & caramelized banana.
A detail of American artist Eve Mosher's eighteen foot long 𝘙𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘱, with contributions from the local communities along one of the longest rivers in Scotland.
From her @LMCC Arts Center residency on #GovernorsIsland.
evemosher.com
From her @LMCC Arts Center residency on #GovernorsIsland.
evemosher.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:42 PM
A detail of American artist Eve Mosher's eighteen foot long 𝘙𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘱, with contributions from the local communities along one of the longest rivers in Scotland.
From her @LMCC Arts Center residency on #GovernorsIsland.
evemosher.com
From her @LMCC Arts Center residency on #GovernorsIsland.
evemosher.com
Black & white cookie, a bit worse for wear from its plastic package, from Grabstein's Bagels on the UES.
These iconic treats are thought to have originated with German immigrants to the US, became popular with the Jewish community here, & in Germany are known now as 'Amerikaner'
These iconic treats are thought to have originated with German immigrants to the US, became popular with the Jewish community here, & in Germany are known now as 'Amerikaner'
January 13, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Black & white cookie, a bit worse for wear from its plastic package, from Grabstein's Bagels on the UES.
These iconic treats are thought to have originated with German immigrants to the US, became popular with the Jewish community here, & in Germany are known now as 'Amerikaner'
These iconic treats are thought to have originated with German immigrants to the US, became popular with the Jewish community here, & in Germany are known now as 'Amerikaner'
Can't seem to stay away from @SchallerWeber on the UES! Back for their Butt Chop sandwich - smoked pork butt with mustard & red cabbage on a seeded roll, plus some German-style cucumbers. Washed it all down with an #Almdudler - a popular Austrian fizzy drink, sweet & herbal.
January 12, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Can't seem to stay away from @SchallerWeber on the UES! Back for their Butt Chop sandwich - smoked pork butt with mustard & red cabbage on a seeded roll, plus some German-style cucumbers. Washed it all down with an #Almdudler - a popular Austrian fizzy drink, sweet & herbal.
The surviving portion of #StoneStreet in lower Manhattan on a frosty evening. Totally rebuilt after the great fire of 1835 & one of the few spots buildings of that vintage can still be seen in the Wall St area. Its western end was taken over for a Goldman Sachs tower in the 1980s
January 11, 2026 at 3:19 PM
The surviving portion of #StoneStreet in lower Manhattan on a frosty evening. Totally rebuilt after the great fire of 1835 & one of the few spots buildings of that vintage can still be seen in the Wall St area. Its western end was taken over for a Goldman Sachs tower in the 1980s
Tried the much-touted sauerkraut potato knish at tiny #ElbowBread on the L.E.S. Very pleasant, with the care for texture & flavor that shows in everything they make.
However, it was overshadowed by an insanely good triple apple cider donut (eaten too quickly to be photographed)!
However, it was overshadowed by an insanely good triple apple cider donut (eaten too quickly to be photographed)!
January 10, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Tried the much-touted sauerkraut potato knish at tiny #ElbowBread on the L.E.S. Very pleasant, with the care for texture & flavor that shows in everything they make.
However, it was overshadowed by an insanely good triple apple cider donut (eaten too quickly to be photographed)!
However, it was overshadowed by an insanely good triple apple cider donut (eaten too quickly to be photographed)!
A comb, a wrench, nails & paperclips - from the @MetMuseum show #ManRay: When Objects Dream, a collection of mundane items from the artist's studio, like those he used in creating his ‘rayograms’ - direct prints made by composing them on top of photo paper & exposing it to light.
January 9, 2026 at 2:21 PM
A comb, a wrench, nails & paperclips - from the @MetMuseum show #ManRay: When Objects Dream, a collection of mundane items from the artist's studio, like those he used in creating his ‘rayograms’ - direct prints made by composing them on top of photo paper & exposing it to light.
At the bare-bones Chelsea location of The Pho (#2) for grilled pork tacos with banh mi-style seasoning & pickled carrot & daikon slaw. Those & some of the eponymous Vietnamese beef noodle soup hit the spot for a warming lunch on a bitterly cold NYC day.
thepho2ny.com
thepho2ny.com
January 8, 2026 at 3:19 PM
At the bare-bones Chelsea location of The Pho (#2) for grilled pork tacos with banh mi-style seasoning & pickled carrot & daikon slaw. Those & some of the eponymous Vietnamese beef noodle soup hit the spot for a warming lunch on a bitterly cold NYC day.
thepho2ny.com
thepho2ny.com
An initial visit to #Lungi on Manhattan's East Side for South Indian & Sri Lankan eats included Kerala beef, plain dosa, Tawa fish fry, house special goat curry & hoppers - but we'll be back for more soon.
Thanks @RussellManthy for the company & great photos!
lungirestaurant.com
Thanks @RussellManthy for the company & great photos!
lungirestaurant.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:25 PM
An initial visit to #Lungi on Manhattan's East Side for South Indian & Sri Lankan eats included Kerala beef, plain dosa, Tawa fish fry, house special goat curry & hoppers - but we'll be back for more soon.
Thanks @RussellManthy for the company & great photos!
lungirestaurant.com
Thanks @RussellManthy for the company & great photos!
lungirestaurant.com
A pleasant lunch of roasted lamb shoulder with tzatziki and pickles on a fluffy pita, along with salad at the NYC #Flatiron district location of Mediterranean-themed Zaytinya, part of the ever-growing empire of Spanish-American restaurateur José Andrés.
January 6, 2026 at 2:13 PM
A pleasant lunch of roasted lamb shoulder with tzatziki and pickles on a fluffy pita, along with salad at the NYC #Flatiron district location of Mediterranean-themed Zaytinya, part of the ever-growing empire of Spanish-American restaurateur José Andrés.
Perched on the edge of the rapidly-expanding border of DUMBO north into Vinegar Hill, the no-frills Bridge Coffee Shop already feels like a remnant of a more workaday NYC neighborhood, offering up familiar Dominican steam table standards as well as legit made-to-order #mofongo.
January 5, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Perched on the edge of the rapidly-expanding border of DUMBO north into Vinegar Hill, the no-frills Bridge Coffee Shop already feels like a remnant of a more workaday NYC neighborhood, offering up familiar Dominican steam table standards as well as legit made-to-order #mofongo.
My tour guests love the #pastrami eggrolls at Pastrami Factory (formerly Pastrami Queen) in DUMBO's Time Out Market. I was skeptical when I first saw this Jewish rework of a pork-based American Chinese treat, but their blend of cabbage, veggies + deli mustard is (chef's kiss)!
January 4, 2026 at 3:15 PM
My tour guests love the #pastrami eggrolls at Pastrami Factory (formerly Pastrami Queen) in DUMBO's Time Out Market. I was skeptical when I first saw this Jewish rework of a pork-based American Chinese treat, but their blend of cabbage, veggies + deli mustard is (chef's kiss)!
Soba Totto on E. 43rd has been rebranded as Izakaya Futago, with an ambitiously-broad menu of sushi, soba, yakitori, small plates & drink snacks. We sampled pork & chicken breast yakitori with pickled ume plum & a vast sea of shareable noodles tsukemen-style with dipping broth.
January 3, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Soba Totto on E. 43rd has been rebranded as Izakaya Futago, with an ambitiously-broad menu of sushi, soba, yakitori, small plates & drink snacks. We sampled pork & chicken breast yakitori with pickled ume plum & a vast sea of shareable noodles tsukemen-style with dipping broth.